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Donald Sterling is gone and he isn’t coming back to his courtside seat at Staples Center. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced a lifetime suspension and a $2.5 million fine for the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday during a press conference that will be remembered as a landmark moment in league history. The punishment was levied just days after audio recordings of Sterling making racist comments were released by TMZ and Deadspin.

“Effective immediately, I am banning Mr. Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers organization or the NBA,” Silver said during a press conference in New York on Tuesday afternoon. “Mr. Sterling may not attend any NBA games or practices.He may not be present at any Clippers facility. He may not participate in any business or player personnel decisions.”

In the recorded conversations that even garnered a rebuke from President Barack Obama, Sterling could be heard telling a woman, V. Stiviano, not to bring black friends to Clippers games or to post photos of herself with black people, including NBA legend Magic Johnson, on her Instagram account. “We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling’s views,” Silver said. “They simply have no place in the NBA.”

In addition to announcing the permanent suspension from the NBA and the fine, Silver made it clear that he will urge the league’s Board of Governors to exercise its authority to force Sterling to sell the team. The fine levied against Sterling, worth approximately $1.9 billion according to Forbes, will be donated to organizations dedicated to anti-discrimination and tolerance efforts.”I fully expect to get the support I need from the owners to remove him,” Silver said.

A day before Silver announced the findings of the NBA investigation and the punishments, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban expressed reservations about forcing out Sterling, fearing it could start the league down a “slippery slope.” If a vote is eventually taken among owners, Silver will need 75 percent of them on his side to finally force Sterling to sell the team.

Following the press conference on Tuesday, Cuban seemed to be ready to go along with the NBA Commissioner.

“When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don’t have to do anything, you just let them talk,” -President Obama.

Clippers player wear warmup T-shirts inside out on Sunday

The Los Angeles Clippers players have shown their solidarity but seemingly without team owner Donald Sterling.

In an act of protest against alleged racist remarks attributed to Sterling, Clippers players warmed up for their playoff game on Sunday afternoon against the Golden State Warriors with their red T-shirts worn inside out to obscure any team logo.

The male voice on the recording said, “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?” The female replied, “You associate with black people.” The man countered, “I’m not you, and you’re not me. You’re supposed to be a delicate white or a delicate Latina girl.” That prompted the woman to assert, “I’m a mixed girl … And you’re in love with me. And I’m black and Mexican whether you like it or not.”

Clippers boss, Donald Sterling and V. Stiviano (right)

According to TMZ Sports, this photo of Magic Johnson, V. Stiviano and her friend on the left, Rachel Rodriguez that caused the alleged remark.

Via TMZ Sports

The man on the recording, which was first published by TMZ, also said, “You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on [Instagram] … and not to bring them to my games.”

Clippers President, Andy Roeser also released the following statement on Saturday:

We have heard the tape on TMZ. We do not know if it is legitimate or it has been altered. We do know that the woman on the tape — who we believe released it to TMZ — is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family alleging that she embezzled more than $1.8 million, who told Mr. Sterling that she would “get even.” Mr. Sterling is emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect his views, beliefs or feelings. It is the antithesis of who he is, what he believes and how he has lived his life. He feels terrible that such sentiments are being attributed to him, and apologizes to anyone who might have been hurt by them. He is also upset and apologizes for sentiments attributed to him about Earvin Johnson. He has long considered Magic a friend, and has only the utmost respect and admiration for him — both in terms of who he is and what he has achieved. We are investigating this matter.

Meanwhile Celebrities like Rihanna, Snoop Dog and President Obama have reacted to this racist rant in disapprovingly of this racist rant.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) had planned to honor Sterling with a lifetime achievement award in May; however, the organization announced Sunday it would no longer be doing so.

No. 4 seed Li captured her first Australian Open title — in her third Melbourne final — and second Grand Slam championship by beating No. 20 seed Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night.

“Finally I got her,” Li said as she put a hand on the Daphne Akhurst trophy for the first time as Australian Open women’s champion. “Last two times was very close.”

Li then brought roars of laughter from the crowd in her post-match speech, as she usually does, thanking her agent and teasing her husband. “Max agent, make me rich. Thanks a lot,” Li said of Max Eisenbud. To her husband, Jiang Shan, she said, “Thanks a lot, you are a nice guy. Also you are so lucky.”

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